Favor distributor



July 3, 1928.

- w. E. DODGE FAVOR DISTRIBUTOR Filed July 17, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR WITNESSES v ATTORNEYS W. E. DODGE FAVOR DISTRIBUTOR '2 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jul 17, 1926 llllllllll" 9 5 "a? Il R ii 7 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented July 3, 1928 nonenor SHAWNEE, onnen011m.

, "revolt DISTR BUTOR.

Application filed July 17,

This invention relates to a favor distribu-' tor to be used at banquets, dinners lu'nch-' eons, celebrations, parties and the like.

Theobject of the invention is to provide a favor distributor containing 'a concealed favor and which has ornamental and debOra tive value at all times and which may be openedat the desired time to expose to'view and avail for distributionthe' favors tofbe given to the guests.

v Preferably the favor distributor is in the form of a combined light support and favor distributor which has a receptacle made up of m vable sections adapted 'to be'folded to' conceal the favor or to be extended stolenderfthe, favor accessible. The invention contemplates either] hinged sections on springy 7 0r resilient sections. In conjunctlon with the section s ofthe receptacle suitable means maybe, provided for holding leaves or sections'in position to form a complete and y closedi'rece'ptacle and this means [may be released manually oi, automatically as may be desired. r v I Other objects and advantages, reside; in certain novelfeatures of the construction, arrangement and combination or parts which will be hereinafter more fullyide scribed and particularly pointed out in. the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification, and in which: i

; Figure 1 is a sectional view showing one form of favor distributor embodying the invention.

'Figure 2 is a view in transverse horizontal section on line 22 of Figure '1'. v .t

I howing another embodiment of the inveninlFigures l and 5; V

Referring to' the drawings, 1t willjbe seen Figure 3 is' a detail perspective view of the means for holding the sections of the receptacle closed and the release provided for such means. 1 v r Fig'ure is a view partly in diagrammatic vertical section and partly in side elevation tion'.

"Figure 5 is a view in horizontal section on line 55 of Figure 4, and,

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view show ing the section holding means and release providedin'the form ofthe invention shown that in both embodiments of theiinv'ention a base 1 is provided. jAt a suitable distance above the base a light support 3 is provided.

In the form of the invention shown in 1926. Serial No. 123,138. I

Figure l, the light supportv3 is designed to receive and support a wax candle 4 and this support for the candle 4; may be conveniently secured to the upper ends of" supporting wires the lower ends of embedded'in thebase 1.

which wires 5 are In the form of the invention shownin Figure 4, the support'3 is designed to support an electricgfixture such as an electric candle 6 and in thisinstance thesupport 3 is carried by the upper end of the tubular supporting elements the tubular support ing elements 7 having their lower ends em bedded in the'base 1 and carrying wires 8 which serve to carry the current to and from the lamp of the electrical fixtures 6.

In both forms of thein'vention, favor receptacles designated generally at 10 are provided between the base 1 and light support 3. Preferably each receptacle-10 is made upof a plurality of leaves 11, thelowerends ofwhich are pivotally supported as at 121011 a bracket 13 secured to the base 1. When i the sections 11' are held in nprightclosed position they constitute a complete recep-' tacle and preferably they are shaped to give i to the support a vase-likebody which is ornamental and decorative in appearance. This vase-likebody is hollow sov as topro; vide'a container for the favorand also is completely closed to conceal the favorand j the supporting elements 5. or 7. The favor may be placed upon a flat upper end o r-a boss 15-integral with the base. ,Theupper end of each section 11 is provided with a downturned flange 17 which fits up against Q i the light support 3 in the closed position of the parts. The downturned flanges 17 in assemblyand in the closed position of the sections 1 1 make up a complete annular flange whlch is engaged by the similarly formed flange 18 provided on a holding or locking element 19. In lieu of pivotally supporting the sections 11 they may be made of resilient material with their lower ends embedded in or otherwise fiXed-to'the vase. The upper ends of such resilient sections may be flexed into engagement with the holder and provide a closed. receptaclebut when released fly out to extended position under the influence of their elasticity.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 3 the locking element19 has a spider 20 madefup of arms which are connected with the ring 18 at their outer ends and which are connected together at their winner 7 the candlelhas burned down to a point' Where the waxof the candle in which the pin is embedded softens. At such time the weight of the holder 19 (which may be weighted for this purpose) will automatically pull the pin 25 out of the candle. The pin 25 having been disengaged from the can dle {l the holder 19 is "free to and does drop down on the wires 5 in which'position its flange 18 is disengaged from the flanges 17 of tlie sections 11. The sections 11 then fall under the action of gravity from the position shown in full lines of Fig. 1 to the position shown in dotted lines in said figure. It is'to be understood that the pivot 12 01 each section is so positioned with respect to its center of'gravity as to cause the section to quickly and automaticallyfall whenthe flange 18 is disengaged from the flange 17.

In the form'ot' the invention shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 the holder 19 also has a spider 20 but the spider 20 carries an armature which co-acts with an electro-magnet 31 having pins 32 whereby .it is carried on the light support 3." The electro-magnet is preferably of high resistance and is preferably connected in parallel with the lighting circuit. 'X/Vith this form of the invention when the sections 11 are brought to closed position the holder lies just below the same and'it may be raised so that its flange '18 engages the flange 17 Oil the sections 11 by closing the circuit of the light and magnet, since this attracts the armature 30 which'lies at all times in the field of the magnet 81. It is to be understood 'thatwhenthe holder 19 is in inoperative po- Eve celebrations.

sition it rests on the tubular elements 7 which is outoi the way oi the flanges 17. To open up the receptacle for the favor it is only necessary to momentarily break the circuit through the light and through the magnet.- This permits the armature 30 and consequently the holder 19 to drop downwardly. The sections 11 then fall over to openposition. Finger pieces 40 are provided to facil itate-raising of the holding element in this In the form of the inventionshown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 it is possible to connect up a plurality of the devices in the usual manner and this will adapt thedevice for use at banqu estsor New Years l The form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3 are perhaps better adapted foruse with individual tables.

I claim: I v

1. A favor distributor comprising a'base', a receptacle made up of a plurality of sections having. their lower ends connected to the base, means to receive and cooperate with the upper end of the sections for holding them in position for forming a closed receptacle, and a release for said means.

2. A decorative novelty of the character described comprisingabase, an article support,

supporting elements having their lower ends engaging with the base and their upper ends engaging with an article sup-port, a receptacle made up of sections connected to' the base and adapted to be positioned to form a closed receptacle which contains and conceals the: supporting elements and also afi'ords a 'space' holding g:

for favors, and releasing means for the sections in closed position; I

3. A decorative novelty of the character described comprising a base, alight support, supporting elements having their lower ends engaging with the baseand their upper ends engaging with the light support, a

receptacle made up of sections connected'to the base and adapted to be positioned to form a closed receptacle which contains and conceals the supporting elements and also affords a space for favors releasing means for holding the sections in closed position including a ring, the sections havingflanges cooperable with the ring, and means con-.

trolled by the operation pf the light for-releasing said means. i V,

4. A decorative novelty of the class def scribed comprising a base, a light support, supporting elements having their lower ends engaging the base and their upper ends en gaging the light support, a receptacle made up of sections connected to the-baseand adapted to be positioned to for'ma closed receptacle which contains and conceals the supporting elements. and also affords a space for favors, and releasing meansfor holding the sections in closed position, said releasing meanslncluding a ring, the sections having flanges cooperable with the ring.

5. .A device of the class described com.- prising a llght support and a favor. recep tacle one housed within theother, cooperating means carried by saidreceptacle and support whereby they are held in operative position, and means for releasing "saidi'co operating means to permit the enclosed 11:

member to be exposed. so

6. In a device of the class described a base, a support carried by said base, an article housing located adjacent said support. and having a movable section, releasable means for holding said section in closed po sition,

and means mounted in said support operable to release said section holding means whereby thesection may be moved at will to disclose the contents of the housing,

.7. A decorative novelty of the class described comprisinga base, a light support, supporting elements having one end engaged with the base and their other ends engaged with the light support, a receptacle connected to the base for containing and concealing the supporting elements, said receptacle including a movable section, and releasable means for holding said movable section in closed position, said means and section having cooperable interlocking elements and means for releasing said holding means.

8. A decorative novelty of the class described comprising a' base, a light support, supporting elements having one end engaged with the base and their other ends engaged 15 with the support, the receptacle carried by the base adapted to contain and conceal the supporting elements, said receptacle having a movable section, means for releasably holding said movable section in closed. posi- 20 tion, and means for releasing said holding means. I

WILLIAM E. DODGE. 

